- Fly into Seville and out of Málaga to avoid backtracking, or do the loop from Málaga
- Book Alhambra tickets weeks ahead on the official site: about €22 including the booking fee
- Don't drive into old town centres: Seville, Granada and Málaga have low-emission zones and restricted streets
- Spring and autumn are best, as inland Andalusia regularly tops 40°C in summer
Andalusia packs more into a week than most regions manage in a month. There are Moorish palaces and Gothic cathedrals, white villages clinging to mountainsides, a town split by a 100-metre gorge, and beaches at the end of it all. The distances are manageable, the roads are good and the food is some of the best in Spain.
This ten-day route runs from Seville to Málaga, with a night or two in each place. Flights to both cities take about two hours forty-five minutes from London, so it's easy to fly into one and home from the other.
The route at a glance
| Days | Stop | Highlights | Drive from previous stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Seville | Real Alcázar, cathedral and Giralda, Plaza de España, flamenco | Start (collect car on day 3) |
| 4 | White towns | Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema | About 1 hour to Arcos |
| 5-6 | Ronda | Puente Nuevo, El Tajo gorge, Setenil de las Bodegas | About 1.5 hours from Arcos |
| 7-8 | Granada | Alhambra, Albaicín, tapas culture | About 2 hours |
| 9-10 | Málaga | Alcazaba, Picasso Museum, beaches | About 1.5 hours |
Driving times are approximate and don't include stops.
Days 1-3: Seville
Don't collect your car until you leave Seville. The centre is best explored on foot, and driving in the old town is stressful and largely restricted.
- Real Alcázar: A royal palace of tiled courtyards and gardens, still used by the Spanish royal family. General entry costs €15.50 on the official site in 2026, with timed slots. The last hour on Mondays is free if you book ahead online, but places are limited.
- Cathedral and Giralda: The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, with Christopher Columbus's tomb and a former minaret you climb by ramps. Tickets cost about €13 online or €14 at the door.
- Plaza de España: A vast, tiled semicircle in María Luisa Park. It's free and best visited late in the day.
- Barrio de Santa Cruz and Triana: Wander the old Jewish quarter's alleys, then cross the river to Triana for ceramics and tapas.
- Flamenco: Seville is the home of flamenco. Small venues, or tablaos, offer more atmosphere than big dinner shows.
Andalusia does not currently charge a tourist tax. Seville and Málaga have both asked for one, but the regional government rejected the idea in 2026, so check again before you travel.
Day 4: the white towns
Leave Seville and head south-east into the hills of Cádiz province, home to the pueblos blancos, or white towns.
- Arcos de la Frontera: Perched on a sandstone cliff, with a viewpoint from the main square straight down to the valley floor.
- Zahara de la Sierra: A white village beneath a hilltop castle, overlooking a turquoise reservoir.
- Grazalema: A mountain village in a natural park, with good walking.
The mountain roads are narrow and winding, but quiet outside weekends. Spend the night in one of the villages, or drive on to Ronda.
Days 5-6: Ronda
Ronda is split in two by El Tajo, a gorge more than 100 metres deep. The 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge spans it, and it's one of the most dramatic sights in Spain.
- Walk across the Puente Nuevo, then follow the path down to the viewpoints below for the classic photo.
- Visit the Plaza de Toros, one of Spain's oldest bullrings, and the Arab baths.
- Make a side trip to Setenil de las Bodegas, where houses are built into overhanging rock.
Stay overnight so you see Ronda in the evening, after the day-trip coaches leave.
Days 7-8: Granada
Granada sits beneath the Sierra Nevada, and its highlight is the Alhambra, a hilltop complex of Moorish palaces, fortress walls and gardens.
- Tickets: The Alhambra General ticket costs about €22.27 on the official Patronato site in 2026, including the booking fee. It covers the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba. Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is at a fixed half-hour slot, and you won't be admitted if you miss it. Tickets are named, so bring the passport you booked with.
- Book early: Tickets often sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn. If they've gone, a night visit to the Nasrid Palaces or a Gardens ticket is a good back-up, but check exactly what's included.
- Conservation work: Areas sometimes close or follow altered routes. The Alcazaba reopened in September 2026 with an adapted route, for example. Check the official site for updates.
- Albaicín: The old Moorish quarter faces the Alhambra. Go to the Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset.
- Tapas: Many bars in Granada still serve a free tapa with each drink.
Parking: Granada's centre is a low-emission zone, and many streets in the Albaicín and around the cathedral are closed to non-resident traffic and watched by cameras. Leave the car at your hotel or in a public car park, and ask your hotel whether it needs to register your number plate.
Days 9-10: Málaga
Finish on the coast. Málaga is a lively city with excellent museums, as well as a beach in the centre.
- Alcazaba and Gibralfaro: A Moorish fortress-palace and the castle above it. Entry costs about €7 each or €10 combined in 2026, and both are free on Sunday afternoons.
- Picasso Museum: In the artist's home city.
- Beaches: Malagueta beach is a short walk from the old town. Or head west along the Costa del Sol, or east to Nerja.
Return the car at Málaga airport, which is only about 15 minutes from the city centre.
Driving tips
- Licence and paperwork: A UK photocard driving licence is valid for hiring a car in Spain. Carry your passport, and use a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit.
- Low-emission zones: Seville, Granada and Málaga all operate them. Spanish-registered hire cars normally carry the right environmental sticker, but check when you collect the car.
- Old towns: Even where a car is allowed, historic centres have narrow lanes and camera-controlled streets. Choose hotels with parking or near a car park.
- Fuel and roads: Motorways in Andalusia are mostly toll-free. Fill up before heading into the mountains.
Read our full guide to car hire abroad for UK drivers for advice on insurance and excess.
When to go
March to May and late September to early November are ideal, with warm days and comfortable evenings. Seville's Holy Week (Semana Santa) and April Fair are spectacular but very busy, and hotel prices jump. In July and August, Seville, Córdoba and Granada often exceed 40°C, so visit sights early and rest at midday. Winter is mild and quiet, with snow on the Sierra Nevada.
Extend the trip
Add Córdoba, about 1.5 hours from Seville, for the Mezquita, its extraordinary mosque-cathedral. Or start in Madrid and take the high-speed train south. See our Spain guide for more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for an Andalusia road trip?
Ten days is ideal for Seville, the white towns, Ronda, Granada and Málaga at a relaxed pace. A week works if you cut the white towns to a drive-through and spend a single night in Ronda.
Do I need a car in Andalusia?
Not for the cities, which are linked by trains and buses. A car is worth it for the white towns, Ronda's countryside and the mountain roads. Collect it after Seville and return it in Málaga.
How far ahead should I book the Alhambra?
As early as possible, ideally several weeks ahead in spring and autumn. Buy only from the official Alhambra ticket site, or through a licensed tour if official tickets have sold out.
Is there a tourist tax in Seville or Málaga?
Not at the moment. Andalusia doesn't charge a tourist tax, although both cities have pushed for one. Check before you travel in case the rules change.
Is it better to start in Seville or Málaga?
Either works. Málaga has more flights from the UK, but starting in Seville means you finish with beach days on the coast. Open-jaw flights, into one city and home from the other, avoid a long drive back.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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